Booking Swerve Strickland's Path Back to AEW's World Championship

Swerve Strickland is gaining momentum as All Elite Wrestling's top antagonist, making this the ideal time for him to return to the world title picture.

Two years ago, The Most Dangerous Man in AEW defeated Samoa Joe at Dynasty to become the company's first Black world champion. Strickland had a strong run before he ultimately dropped the title to Bryan Danielson at All In: London.

It was a career-defining reign that proved to mainstream fans that he had arrived as a legitimate main eventer. Anyone familiar with his work on the indies knew he had the potential, but his 2024 run confirmed how much he had grown as a performer.

So much so that many fans felt his reign ended too soon, especially after his last one-on-one match with "Hangman" Adam Page at All Out. Considering the reaction every time the two have crossed paths this year, it may be time to thrust their heated rivalry back into the main event scene.

Surprisingly, Strickland hasn't held the AEW World Championship again, but he's undeniably hot right now. The 36-year-old is in the best storyline with The New Level.

He consistently makes everyone he works with better, and his matches always deliver. This is how we would book his path back to the company's top prize.

Revisit The Dynasty Era

His upcoming Texas Deathmatch for the trios titles could go either way. Hangman and Brodido could retain, giving The New Level the chance to venture into the tag division.

However, a win at Full Gear doesn't mean Strickland must abandon his pursuit of singles gold. In fact, his interactions with Page should remind both men why they sought to challenge each other at the event in 2023.

They both also have a history with the current champion, Will Ospreay, which provides another reason to chase the title. Their dynamic during the "Dynasty era" is the perfect foundation for an eventual triple threat match.

We never truly got a rewarding conclusion to their uneasy alliance at All In: Texas. Yes, Strickland and Ospreay faced off in this year's men's Owen Hart Cup finals, but there's so much more AEW could do with them.

The company should spend the remainder of 2026 positioning them to collide next year. Strickland overcomes Hangman at Full Gear, forcing him to admit the trios titles will never fill the void created after his loss to MJF.

Meanwhile, his bitter rival refocuses on his goal to regain the world title by any means necessary. An inevitable matchup with The Elite will keep him and The New Level occupied, but the ultimate move should be to call out Ospreay.

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All Roads Lead To AEW Revolution

It's a safe bet that MJF will return before the end of the year and stake his claim to a title shot. After all, he still believes Kenny Omega only beat him because Ospreay intervened and that he is the real world champion.

This sets up their rematch at Worlds End, where The Aerial Assassin retains his title. Afterward, Strickland stands at the top of the ramp and watches him celebrate. Conversely, Hangman enters the Continental Classic and loses in the finals.

At New Year's Smash, Strickland reminds everyone of everything he accomplished with AEW and vows that 2027 will be his year. During the same episode, Andrade El Idolo uses his guaranteed title opportunity to call his shot at Dynasty.

Ospreay narrowly defeats him, but Strickland enters the ring afterward. He says, "I made history at this event three years ago. What do you say we make history again?"

Before they can shake hands, The Cut attacks them both, and Jay White picks up the AEW World Championship. Ospreay offers White a title match on the following episode of Dynamite, infuriating Strickland.

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During their match, The Cut interferes to help White until The United Empire runs them off. The Switchblade lands The Blade Runner, but he gets hit with a House Call before he can pin Ospreay.

Ospreay wins with Strickland's help, but his longtime friend attacks him afterward until The New Level comes to his aid. To everyone's surprise, he shoves the Austin Creed and Kofi down and says, "I tried to do this the right way."

Over the next few weeks, Strickland continues to attack the champion and his stablemates. His promos get increasingly personal until Ospreay accepts his challenge. Hangman eventually steps in and points out that he's going too far again.

Page has seen what the most dangerous man is willing to do to win the world title, so he warns Ospreay he's making a mistake. Nevertheless, the match goes on as scheduled, and Strickland cheats to win.

The New Level reluctantly comes down to the ring, and he demands that they lift him up on their shoulders like Big E and Creed famously did. The closing shot is an homage to Kofi's win at WrestleMania 35, with Strickland sporting an evil grin.

Ospreay eventually demands a rematch, but Hangman interjects to go back on his word and challenge for the world title. He reasons that he believes he's the only one who can stop him, but neither will back down, setting up a triple threat for AEW Revolution.

Reports suggest that the event will take place in the spring next year. This match would be a fitting main event for the show.